50 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



cannery was located here for the purpose of utilizing the small herring that were reported as pecu- 

 liarly abundant in the region. Weirs were built at different points along the mainland, and about 

 the various islands, but thus far the catch, with few exceptions, has been so small that the cannery 

 has not been fully supplied. A scarcity of herring has resulted iq experiments in the canning of 

 mackerel, and Mr. Sellmann, the proprietor, has succeeded in producing a very palatable article 

 which is now being placed upon the market under the name of "broiled mackerel." The fish are 

 received with great favor by the trade, and the demand for them is constantly increasing. The 

 process of preparation is radically different from that heretofore employed in the canning of this- 

 species. Fat mackerel of small size are selected, and after their heads and tails have been removed, 

 the fish are thoroughly cleaned and washed; they are then spread on wire trays and placed on a 

 revolving frame in a large oven, where they are broiled for several minutes in a manner similar to- 

 that by which the sardines are prepared. When thoroughly cooked, they are taken out, and, after 

 cooling, packed in tin cans with tomato or other sauce and hermetically sealed. Mr. Sellmann 

 has certainly made an important discovery, and there is every reason to believe that the business 

 begun by him will develop enormously within the next few years. 



2C. THE FOX ISLANDS. 



THE LOCATION AND IMPORTANCE OF THE ISLANDS. The Fox Islands, including the islands 

 of Vinal Haven and North Haven, are situated in the month of the Penobscot River, about mid- 

 way between either shore. They were first permanently settled in 17G5, and incorporated under 

 the name of Vinal Haven in 1789, North Haven being set off in 1846. The southern island is one 

 huge mass of granite, with hardly a patch of soil large enough to warrant any one in engaging in 

 agriculture. For this reason nine-tenths of the men arc employed in the granite quarries at 

 Carver's Harbor, which rank among the most important on the contineut. The northern island is 

 quite different, and though very rocky in parts has much arable land, and a large part of its 

 people are engaged in farming. 



The location of the islands in the vicinity of excellent fishing-grounds has naturally led many 

 of the inhabitants to engage extensively in the fisheries. The first settlers are said to have been 

 fishermen who came to the region for the purpose of prosecuting their work to better advantage. 



THE FISHERIES OF VINAL HAVEN. According to Mr. James Roberts, Vinal Haven had twelve 

 to fifteen sail of Chebacco boats, ranging from 15 to 30 tons, engaged in the fisheries as early as 

 1817, the smaller ones fishing along the shore while the larger ones went to the Seal Island grounds 

 and Brown's Bank. The fleet was gradually increased by purchase from Cape Ann and elsewhere,, 

 and before 1830 a larger and better class of vessels had been brought to the town. 



The Labrador fisheries, says Mr. Roberts, began in 1804, and were continued to 1810, though 

 the business was never extensive. One season two or three vessels would engage in this fishery, 

 and for several years following none would be sent. 



The Magdalen herring fisheries have been peculiarly important and extensive. They began 

 about 1830 and continued without interruption till 1858. The height of the fishery was from J840 

 to 1850, when eight or nine sail went yearly, starting early in April and returning late in May. 

 The herring were lauded on the island, where the bulk of them were smoked. Some crews con- 

 tracted their catch in advance to the Vinal Haven dealers, agreeing to land their cargoes at a 

 stipulated price. The crews often purchased their fish from the natives, though this practice was 

 not universal, and many of them "went on shares," catching, salting, and smoking their fish, 

 and carrying them to Boston to be marketed. As far as we could learn, but one vessel from 

 Vinal Daren has fished on Grand Banks, and this for but one or two years only. One vessel, the- 



